I learned the hard way to NEVER PUT GRASS CLIPPING IN MY COOP, after losing two of my most beloved chickens.
My first chicken faded away slowly, and I didn't have a clue why I lost her. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It happened again, several months later, to another hen. Sadly, I did figure it out this time, but it was too late; she died in my arms. I feel so terrible about it; I hadn't recognized sour crop which became crop impaction (the warning signs were clearly there, I just didn't know enough to put it together) Had I figured it out, there are several different methods to help save you chicken before it is too late, and I may have been able to save them (but that is another thread for another time)
Crop impaction/sour crop is where food fails to move from the crop to the stomach, due to an obstruction. One of the potential causes for this obstruction is long grass causing food to be prevented from passing into the digestive system.
I have been given to understand that when your flock free-ranges, they naturally peck grass off at a short enough length due the distance between their eyes, beak, and the grass (isn't nature amazing?). Grass clippings are often longer than that.
It is interesting to note that both of the chickens I lost were Cochin. The others are Silkies and Seramas. I was lucky enough that none of my other chickens had this problem, and I have not had any further problems since I stopped the grass clippings. Keeping my fingers crossed...
My first chicken faded away slowly, and I didn't have a clue why I lost her. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It happened again, several months later, to another hen. Sadly, I did figure it out this time, but it was too late; she died in my arms. I feel so terrible about it; I hadn't recognized sour crop which became crop impaction (the warning signs were clearly there, I just didn't know enough to put it together) Had I figured it out, there are several different methods to help save you chicken before it is too late, and I may have been able to save them (but that is another thread for another time)
Crop impaction/sour crop is where food fails to move from the crop to the stomach, due to an obstruction. One of the potential causes for this obstruction is long grass causing food to be prevented from passing into the digestive system.
I have been given to understand that when your flock free-ranges, they naturally peck grass off at a short enough length due the distance between their eyes, beak, and the grass (isn't nature amazing?). Grass clippings are often longer than that.
It is interesting to note that both of the chickens I lost were Cochin. The others are Silkies and Seramas. I was lucky enough that none of my other chickens had this problem, and I have not had any further problems since I stopped the grass clippings. Keeping my fingers crossed...
